DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE assistant manager Terry Harris has backed striker Paul Benson to end his goal drought against Bury this weekend.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE assistant manager Terry Harris has backed striker Paul Benson to end his goal drought against Bury this weekend.

Benson, who is Daggers leading scorer with 10 goals this season, has managed a mere two strikes in his last 13 matches and missed a glorious chance from a matter of yards at Grimsby Town on Saturday.

But Harris has no doubts that the forward will come good and expects it to be sooner rather than later.

No worries

"I've got no worries about Paul, he might be going through a slight dip, but he's a top-class striker and will always score goals," he said.

"The thing with Paul is that even if he isn't scoring, his work-rate remains the same and he's an excellent link-up player too.

"He would have been disappointed not to have scored on Saturday, but I've watched the DVD and it did take a horrendous bobble, so it was slightly harder than it looked.

"But, as I've said, he works so hard for the team that I'm sure he will be back in the goals soon."

Wes Thomas is available after suspension on Saturday, while Josh Scott is expected to be fit but with Mark Nwokeji on loan at Luton Town, the striking options available to Daggers are minimal.

That might change in the January transfer window, with the club being linked with striker Phil Walsh from Blue Square South side Dorchester Town.

The 25-year-old has managed four goals this season, and Harris admitted they had been looking at the former Tiverton and Bath City man.

"We have talked to the club and the player, but nothing will happen until the turn of the year, if anything at all," said the assistant about Walsh, who can also play in defence.

"He's predominantly a striker and is a good player. When you looked at our bench on Saturday, there weren't too many options upfront, but we'll go with what we've got for now and have a look in the new year."

Daggers are back at Victoria Road on Saturday to entertain eighth-placed Bury and will be out to end a run of three home games without a win and manager John Still is expected to return to the dugout after missing Saturday's trip to Cleethorpes due to illness.

Rightful

"John will be back in his rightful place at the weekend and it if had been a home game on Saturday, I think he would have been there," said Harris, who also hopes Stuart Thurgood will be fit.

"Bury have got a good front two in Andy Morrell and Daniel Nardiello, but we've had reports on them from their games at Morecambe and Barnet.

"They're a good team with a good manager to boot and it will be a difficult game for us."

If you would like to comment on this story, email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

The Post is now on Twitter, so if you follow twitter.com/Post_DagRed then you will get up to the minute updates on goings on at Victoria Road.